"Fine. I won’t bring this up again. But you need to work on your relationship with your nephew. I don’t know how you plan to do it, but you must take steps to clear the misunderstandings," Layla suggested firmly.
Lucius held her gaze for a mont before nodding. "I’ll try," he said quietly.
"Good."
"Are you not heading to work today?" he asked, noticing her casual attire.
"No. I’ll work from ho. If there’s an important eting, I might go in, but for now, I’ll stay here," Layla replied.
Lucius finished his tea without a word, and Layla reached out to take the empty cup from him. "Go freshen up. I’ll call the doctor to check your wound and change the dressing," she instructed, her tone laced with gentle authority. Without waiting for his response, she stood up and left the room.
As the door closed behind her, Lucius sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I’m making things harder for her," he murmured to himself.
He picked up his phone from the bedside table and glanced at the screen, hoping for a ssage from Demitri. There was nothing. Sighing again, he set the phone down and headed to the washroom to freshen up.
Nearly an hour later, Lucius erged from the washroom, a towel draped around his neck and dressed only in his trousers. He noticed the doctor was already there with Layla. She stood to the side, her arms crossed as she observed the doctor’s work.
The doctor carefully examined the wound on Lucius’s side, his expression neutral but focused. "It’s healing well, better than expected," he remarked, nodding with approval as he finished changing the bandage.
"Thank you, Doctor. Please have breakfast before leaving," Layla offered politely, her voice warm.
The doctor rose from his chair, gathering his briefcase. "Thank you, Mrs. Layla, but I’ll have to decline. I already had breakfast at ho," he replied with a polite smile.
"Ah, I see. Well, let show you the way out," Layla offered, stepping toward the door.
The doctor shook his head gently. "That won’t be necessary. I can find my way. Thank you," he said before leaving the room with his briefcase in hand.
Lucius, who had been observing the exchange in silence, walked to the cupboard and pulled out a pullover. He slipped it on and approached Layla, stopping a step away. "I’m sorry for last night," he murmured, his voice laden with regret.
Layla turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "How many tis are you planning to apologize?" she asked in a lighthearted tone. Without waiting for a response, she gently guided him toward the vanity chair and nudged him down onto it.
"Sit," she instructed before reaching for the hairdryer. Turning it on, she began drying his damp hair.
Lucius’s eyes never left her. He watched her through the mirror, her focus entirely on her task. When she finally turned off the device and placed it back on the counter, she turned around—only to find Lucius standing directly in front of her.
Startled, she took a step back, her lower back hitting the edge of the dressing table with a soft thud. A few items toppled to the floor, but neither of them seed to notice.
Lucius leaned in, his nose brushing lightly against hers, his warm breath fanning her lips.
"Everyone’s waiting for us," Layla whispered. Before he could say anything, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back gently. Heading swiftly to the door, she walked out of the room without looking back.
Lucius stood frozen. Her abrupt departure left a hollow feeling in his chest. He could tell she was upset by his actions.
When Lucius reached downstairs, a servant approached him with a courteous bow. "Sir, everyone is in the garden," the servant inford.
Lucius furrowed his brows in confusion but nodded, making his way outside. As he stepped into the garden, he was greeted by the sight of a lively barbeque setup.
The sll of grilled at wafted through the air, and the cheerful chatter of voices filled the space. What caught his attention most was the presence of Roderick among the group.
"Good morning, Dad," Lucius greeted, walking toward Alekis, who stood near the grill.
"Morning!" Alekis responded with a delighted smile, clearly in high spirits.
Lucius returned the smile and moved closer to his father. To his surprise, Roderick acknowledged him with a brief but polite greeting. The tension that usually lingered between them seed noticeably absent, though Lucius couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted the change.
Across the garden, Layla was busy assisting Fiona with setting up the side dishes. Her hands deftly arranging plates and condints.
Alekis excused himself from Lucius and Roderick, heading over to join his daughters-in-law and offer his assistance. Left alone with Roderick, Lucius felt the shift in the atmosphere almost instantly.
"You didn’t go to work?" Lucius arched a brow, breaking the silence.
"No. Layla told to stay back, and I couldn’t refuse her," Roderick replied. Then, without warning, he added, "But that’s not what matters right now. I want to know why you did it. Why did you break my relationship with Layla?" His voice carried an edge of anger.
Lucius sighed, eting Roderick’s gaze directly. "You’re mistaken, Rick. You don’t see the bigger picture. You were cheating on the woman you claid to care about, and you were blind to her feelings. Besides," he paused, his voice softening but not losing its firmness, "I’ve been in love with Layla long before you ca into her life. It’s ti for you to move on."
Roderick’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Alekis’s voice interrupted the tension.
"What are you two doing over there? Co and help us!" Alekis called from the other side of the garden.
"Yes, Dad," Lucius replied.
"Yes, Grandpa," Roderick echoed.
The simultaneous responses caught both of them off guard for a mont, but Lucius quickly moved away, heading to where Layla stood by the grill.
Lucius stepped closer, so much so that his presence was impossible to ignore. Gently, he placed his hand over hers, stopping her mid-motion.
"Let go of my hand," she urged softly.
"I will," Lucius murmured, his voice low, "but only if you tell about your dream wedding."
Layla turned her gaze to him, her brows knitting in confusion. "Huh?" She clearly caught off guard by his unexpected question.
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